Hi from Texas...

Hi guys,

My names is Tom and I'm from Houston, Texas. I'm new to wet shaving. Like most guys we've seen our father's and grandfather's DES and said those won't work in modern times. I was also afraid of slicing my throat open only with DEs, not multiple blades. I like a lot of guys own almost ten multiblades from over the years. But, they all just seem to find their way to the back of a drawer or box-still finding handles and those oh, so expense blades. I actually have been dealing with irritation for my whole shaving life. So, I've regressed to older more established manly arts, with the use of a single BIC disposable.

I arrived here by watching videos on wet shaving. I got to wet shaving from being on a cigar forum (also a newbie there 5 mths) when one of the members was giving away a razor/toothbrush stand. He sent the stand, a few DE blades and some cigars. I realized that the offer of the blades was his mistaken impression that I was a wet shaver. The key turning point was when I mentioned I was interested in how wet shaving worked and what would I need to do to experiment with wet shaving. He gave me a fistful of good advice and I decided to move forward. The only issue was I knew as much about wet shaving as a Martian. So, I went to YouTube and watched 20+ videos on wet shaving and it demystified it by watching guys hold detailed engaging conversations into a camera while wet shaving like a banshee. I was like ok, I know they are vets, and out of all of these "just do it" videos, only one guy nicked himself twice-I was sold.

So, being a college student I honestly could not afford a blade over $20. I was also warned not to get my razor from a drug store, Target, Walmart or As Seen On TV. Suprisingly, it was hard finding a new razor in my city. I went online and even the scratch and dent stuff was out of my price range. So I had to go local and nobody but Target had a razor-truth. A Van Der Hagen, which I wasn't sold on due to the short handle and how common it was. I also wanted options, but finding nothing locally, I had to reassess my plan for attack. I actually watched more videos, did online research (badgerandblade always came up when I requested reviews) to find bargin razor. I passed on ordering any thing from Asia. I had seen countless DE razors in thrift/resale stores over the last few years and passed over them because they were relics.

So, I found out that Sally's Beauty Supply carried a Shave Factory DE Safety razor. Which, when I compared side by side with the VDH, did look much different. It was $12.99 which was under my price point-hooray, and it wasn't reviewed to badly-remember, this is just an experiment. I have had brushes and pucks over the years, but they seemed pretentious using a Gillette 6 blade razor, so I tossed them-I was so lost, maybe even bat shit crazy. I actually want to go and shave, but after watching more videos I'm going to wait a few days to watch more videos and will pick up a discount brush and soap set I saw at Burlington that was under $8. I then will have the necessary basics, except for a syptic stick or alum block. I'm always a value shopper, so wet shaving like cigars can be expensive endeavor, but like golf (which I gave up after 2 weeks) I realized, this wet shaving experiment could be done in a week after starting-so not trying to break the bank with expensive or pricey products.

I hope you guys don't judge me adversely for being a value shopper when it comes to my wet shaving experience, so far. But, I actually would like to graduate to a straight razor eventually, but baby steps.

I look forward to learning more about wet shaving and meeting great people on this journey, along with a better shaving experience than I had so far.

Hi and welcome. Start slow and when you do get shaving don't use pressure. Just the weight of the razor. Take note of the direction of your beard growth and stretch according. Have a good look through the library it will answer most questions. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

Welcome to the forum, Tom.

Welcome Tom!! Your story sounds similar to many and it is very cool you are thrifty in your approach as, most likely, what you are into now will likely change with experience and exposure to different products as you go. Spending more just to find out you are still just solidly in the middle seems like the bane of most Man Hobbies.

Keep up the good work but hesitate no longer... A single-blade Bic has the exact same number of blades as any DE... You are ready. Just watch your angles and accommodate for the weight and you are set!!

Shawn
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